Surfer magazine recently posted an interesting story by their Hawaii editor, Jeff Mull, about an ongoing campaign to popularize surfing in China. While there are many cultural barriers to this–few in China know how to swim well, and the Chinese don’t like getting tan–there are those who believe that China is ripe for a surf invasion.

Photo courtesy Surfer, Grant Ellis

“Yes, China does not currently have much of a beach culture,” Fernando Aguerre, president of the International Surfing Association, told Surfer magazine “and consequently a very small surfing scene. But it does have great waves, and after decades of working hard to make a living, just like other nations in that area of the world, many Chinese now have a disposable income to enjoy life more. I really believe that surfing will be part of that new era in China, in which its citizens also want to enjoy themselves, much like the rest of the world does. I further believe that we are witnessing the start of a vibrant beach culture.”

To read the full story, click here.